Do racism, discrimination and xenophobia exist today? Absolutely! Human beings naturally gravitate and preferentially treat those with whom they find commonality. Unfortunately, some people use this commonality as an indication in determining who is better or superior, and who is not.
The solution to this deeply seated human problem will never be solved by holding up any human or human feature above another. Doing so only perpetuates discrimination albeit on a different level. To solve the problem of racism humans must look beyond themselves to the fundamental source of racism.
Today we hear catchphrases such as, “We are all the same color on the inside” or “We all bleed red.” Physically, this is true. But racism is not a physical disorder which can be treated by prescribing rose-colored glasses for everyone. Racism lies much deeper than that. Racism hides itself deep within the human soul. Interestingly, the person harboring such evil in their soul believes, for the most part, the evil is hidden from the rest of the world. Sometimes this is true and at other times it is obvious to everybody. Never-the-less to eradicate racism, a new set of values must replace the distorted and unhealthy values harbored in the heart. Without accomplishing this, racism will continue to distort and destroy the lives of both those who harbor it and those who are subjected to it.
For too long we have been told that the issue of racism can be solved by looking within. Yet looking within has not and cannot provide any lasting solution. The reason for this is, the only thing an honest person finds when looking within is a bias towards one’s own predilections. These predilections are the breeding grounds of racism in the first place. We need a much broader perspective than merely our own inner thoughts and opinions to eliminate racism.
Many suppose that racism can be solved by compelling schools and companies to be more inclusive in who they allow to attend and who they hire. Yet, such regulations and quotas require people to focus on the unchangeable outward features of a person instead of on the changeable characteristics and qualities. Without question it is the changeable characteristics and qualities of a person which will foil or further a person in their education or in pursuit of a better job. Constrained upward mobility is not the result of too few laws and regulations but the opposite. The plethora of laws, regulations and quotas which are based on the unchangeable features of certain demographics have restricted upward mobility and fostered racism.
For this reason, no amount of affirmative action, quotas or retributions can, or ever will, eliminate racism. Racism can only be abolished if a person’s belief system changes. Yet no outside force, whether that force be in the form of more laws, regulations, fines, rewards or punishments can alter a person’s belief system.
It has been rightfully stated, “You can’t dictate what is found in someone’s heart.” Inevitably the only real solution to abolishing racism it a change of heart. Hearts change only on a personal level. You cannot systemically change hearts. Systemic racism is a political phrase which only stirs up greater xenophobia, and group guilt. Group guilt gives no quarters and therefore no forgiveness. With no forgiveness allocated, anger builds and social unrest is expressed in attempts to rid the heavy burden of group guilt, which all too frequently was misappropriated in the first place.
Change of heart requires more than schooling, laws and quotas. To change a heart it requires love, compassion, mercy and grace.
- Love is: Treating and dealing with others as you yourself would want to be treated.
- Compassion is: Having genuine concern and sympathy towards others and feeling their suffering and misfortunes as if they were your own.
- Mercy is: Forgiving others when it is in your power to do so and not holding a grudge or making attempt(s) to harm or get even.
- Grace is: The willingness to realize you have offended someone and make things right.
Political correctness, being woke and demanding retributions will never solve the problems which originate in the human heart. You can force a person to comply outwardly but doing so will only exacerbate those deeper inner issues. Sooner or later the hate, the intolerance and the contempt harbored within human hearts will spew forth like a pressure relief valve that blows on a steam engine.
Today we are witnessing hate, intolerance and contempt which has been bottled up inside of people’s hearts for far too long. Labels of racism, discrimination and xenophobia are tossed about with unguarded ambition by those who believe they have been maligned or who are using group guilt in attempts to gain power over others. Instead of revamping their belief system they have chosen to act out their belief system. Sadly, the belief system they are enacting fetters love, compassion, mercy and grace; the very things which are needed to cure the heart.
If we hope to survive this dark era of humanity it is time to adopt a healthier belief system: A belief system which overcomes racism and every form of discrimination and xenophobia. It is time to stand up for love, compassion, mercy and grace. It is time to remove ourselves from the hate, the anger, the intolerance and contempt which are fomenting unrest and evil in our society.
We need each other. Without others, none of us can ever become what we were designed to be. We need to join hands with those willing to seek a brighter path, a better future, a happier existence and a more thrilling conclusion. It is time to end racism by adopting the only belief system which treats others like you would like to be treated. It is time to accept the fact that such a belief system is not humanly possible because racism is as old as the human race. It is time to acknowledge we need help. We need God’s help.
Without God and his permanent forgiveness, we are doomed to repeat the same mistakes which humans have made over and over throughout history. Only with God’s sovereign love, compassion, mercy and grace can we ever hope to be what we were intended to become: A race united in one purpose, one destiny with no division in regard to the value of each human life while celebrating our unique and divergent abilities.
Dr. Tomas McFie is a retired physician. As the founder of Life Benefits, he currently works in the financial industry exposing the fallacies of typical financial planning and helping clients keep more of the money they make with a formula that creates financial peace of mind.
Sadly, the so called people of God, giddy and full of unbending self-righteousness, fully vested to conservatism, and unwilling to even consider that some other could be right, are those leading the war of hatred and racism on all or any who won’t drink the cool aid.